El Hierro, the smallest of Spain’s Canary Islands, is grappling with an unprecedented influx of irregular migrants. By mid-November, nearly 19,400 migrants, almost double the island’s population of 11,400, had landed on its shores, according to the Red Cross.
The Nuestra Señora de los Reyes hospital, originally designed for 31 patients, is now overwhelmed, with emergency care spilling into corridors and makeshift tents. Migrants, fleeing jihadist violence and economic crises in Mali, Senegal, and Morocco, face harrowing eight-day journeys across the Atlantic. Many arrive dehydrated, injured, or suffering from hypothermia.
“This constant avalanche is beyond what we can handle,” said Canaries Vice President Manuel Dominguez. The regional government oversees over 5,600 unaccompanied minors, with shelters doubling from 30 to 84 in a year. However, officials claim financial aid from Madrid falls short, despite a €150 million allocation for 2022-2023.
While Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez acknowledges the economic need for migrants, public sentiment remains divided. A recent poll by El Pais found 57% of Spaniards believe the country already hosts too many migrants.
The route to the Canaries has surged as other pathways to Europe face tightened security. Migrants pay smugglers between €400 and €1,500 for the perilous voyage, often in overcrowded, open-topped boats. In September, 63 lives were lost in the archipelago’s worst recorded shipwreck.
Spain is increasing border collaborations with African nations and pushing for renewed EU surveillance operations in Senegal and Mauritania. However, with global migration pressures mounting, authorities fear this crisis may signal a lasting shift in routes.
“Without addressing the root causes of migration, people will keep coming,” warns migration researcher Alberto Ares.
